Labor Palestine Leader Urges Youth to Join

June 28, 1934

Chicago (Jun. 27)

To avoid the scattering of energies, as well as the mistakes of magnifying the values of ballyhoo and of too much thunder and too little light, was the counsel of Rabbi Samuel Wohl, national president of the League for Labor Palestine, who tonight addressed the convention of the National Council of the Poale Zion-Zeirei Zion here.

After paying tribute to the work of the party as he observed it in Palestine and in this country, Rabbi Wohl declared:

“It has been my feeling that one of the weaknesses of the party has been the scattering of its energies on so many fronts. The numerical strength being what it is, with some naturally and temperamentally incapable of effective work, the few are too often loaded with too many tasks.

SEES NEED FOR NEW BLOOD

“If you will stop for a moment and enumerate the agencies, the movements, the institutions with which the party deals, you yourselves will be astounded. It is but natural that over a period of years many active workers become tired and weary, and when the party is not augmented by new power in its leadership and its constituency, I fear that results and activities tend to decrease. It would be well to consider the need and the necessity of bringing in men and women who intellectually and emotionally are akin in their enthusiasm and interest, but who have not had the experience of your veterans.

“To me it is of utmost importance for the future of the Histadruth and of Palestine to bring into the party the most courageous and energetic of our youth from the universities and the shops and the offices, though they can be reached only through the medium of the English language.

‘PURGING’ MAY BE NEEDED

“I know that the party cannot and perhaps ought not become too large and unwieldy. Perhaps even a ‘purging’ would be necessary, for it is my belief that the party ought to consist of men and women disciplined, vigorous, and loyal.”

After referring to the recent New York conference, and characterizing it as “eventful and intelligent,” Rabbi Wohl said:

“We shall try to work modestly, but effectively. We shall not live by campaigns. We shall try to bring knowledge and information. We want an informed and conscious membership.”